Drinking fountain for poultry



June 14, 1932. MORlN 1 ,863,410

DRINKING FOUNTAIN FOR POULTRY Filed April 9. 1931 IH I Patented June use nniisn st I$RAE-L MORIN, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA DRINKING FOUNTAIN FOR POULTRY Application filed. April 9,

The i vention relates to improvements in drinking fountains for poultry as described in the present specification and shown in the accompanying drawing which forms part of the same.

The invention appertains to the conventional drinking fountain in which a constant level of water is maintained in a basin by a double-walled reservoir. Water is stored in the reservoir at a much higher level than that in the basin and replenishes the water in the basin by admittance of air into the inner receptacle by reason of the lowering of the water level.

The improvement comprehends so adapting the drinking fountain that it may also be used for chicks without danger of their toppling into the water and drowning. In carrying out this invention the top of the reservoir that forms one of the two walls is raised above its normal position by suitable means in order to elevate the bottom edge of its wall and thereby raise the level of the water in the basin. A protecting memher is placed over the basin so that chicks can only have access to the water through apertures that are small enough to preclude their falling in.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the fountain in which the top member is depicted in its normal position. In this view a portion of the basin is shown broken away so as to disclose the tern-- porary stopper is used when filling the reservoir.

Figure is a vertical sectional view of Figure 1, in which the said stopper is removed.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the top member raised and the protecting member lit-ted over the basin in order to adapt the device for chicks.

Figure i is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line let of Figure 3.

1931. Serial No. 528,845.

Figure 5 is a side view of the protecting member for the basin.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail depicting the means for retaining the top member in an elevated position, and is taken on the line of 6--6 of Figure 3.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures throughout the drawing.

In the drawing the reference numeral 7 denotes what may be termed the basin of the fountain. I

lVater is maintained at a constant level in the basin so that the fowls may conveniently drink from it. Centrally of the basin rises the reservoir 8 that holds the water supply and which in the preferred construction shown comprises an outer member 9 in the form of a container that is in communication with the basin by means of the open-- ing 10. The container is open at its top and preferably reinforced by a band 11 around the outside of the top edge. I

12 designates a conventional bail by which the fountain may be carried from place to place. 7

13 designates the top member which extends downwardly in the container and may thus be termed an inner member. This mem-' ber some-what resembles an inverted cup and maintains the water at a predetermined level by means of a vacuum created at its upper end. The top piece 14 is preferably conical, being provided with a vent opening 15 at its apex that is closea-ble by a cork or the like as at 16. The base of the cone has a radial flange 17 that constitutes an annular shoulder which normally rests upon the top edge 11 of the container. The cylindrical body 18 is an easy fit within the container in which it downwardly extends to a point below the upper edge 19 of the basin. The bottom edge 20' determines the water level, i. e., by elevating this bottom edge the level of the water is proportionately raised; and vice versa, lowering this bottom edge lowers the water level.

It will be observed that a nipple 21 is shown projecting inwardly of the opening 10. This is to conduct air inwardly of the lower edge of the body 18 so that the air cannot escape between it and the container wall.

As stated in the early part of this specification, means are provided to retain the top member in an elevated position, as shown in Figure 3, so as to raise the level of the water for chicks. This may be achieved in various ways, but that shown in the drawing consists of clips 22 preferably two in number. Said clip may be composed of short lengths of spring steel pivoted at 22 to the container 9 and urged inwardly by their resiliency. The clips have enlarged heads 23 that click over the edge 11 of the container when the clips are swung to upright positions shown in Figure 3. The flange 17 rests upon the clips when raised.

2 denotes the protecting member or guard that fits over the basin 7 and encircles the reservoir, being notched at 25 to clear the bail 12 in passing thereover. The guard is shaped like a frustum of a cone, the base fitting inside the basin 7 and having spaced fingers 26 therearound that rest on the edge 19 and project downwardly to prevent the guard from being dislodged. Apertures 27 are supplied around the guard in the form of circular openings through which the chicks may drink.

To fill the reservoir, a stopper is put in the opening 10 and the top member 13 is removed in order that water may be poured in thecontainer to nearly fill same. The top memher is then replaced with the cork 16 removed so that the air can be displaced, whereupon the cork is inserted to seal the vent. The stopper is then removed from the opening 10 and may be hung on a hook 28. .Vater flows from between the two members of the reservoir and also from the space within the top member to fill the basin to about the level of the bottom edge 20 of the innermember 18.

To convert the device for chicks; the guard is fitted over the basin and top member 13 raised to allow the clips 22 to be swung upwardly to fit under the flange 17 and thus hold the top member elevated so as to raise the level of the basin water in order that chicks may drink through the apertures 27.

What I claim is 2- 1. In a drinking fountain of the class described, a reservoir composed of a pair of members for maintaining water in a basin at a certain level, said members being detachably placed one within the other and the inner member resting upon the outer member by means of a shoulder, and clips pivoted to said outer member and adapted to be swung into such a position as to engage said shoul der to retain it in an elevated position.

2. In a drinking fountain of the class described, a basin, an integral reservoir rising therefrom and having an open top and an opening leading into the basin, a top member loosely lodged within the reservoir and having a closed upper end and an open lower end, aange radiating from the top member and resting upon the top edge of the reservoir and spring clips pivoted to the reservoir and provided with heads at their free ends, said clips being so arranged that when swung to a vertical position they will support the flange of the top member at an elevated position.

Signed at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this 26th day of March, 1931.

ISRAEL MORIN. 

